Gulf Coast Soaking Starts, Other States Still Recovering From Irene

A tropical storm that's expected to drench parts of Louisiana with as much as 20 inches of rain this weekend and could cause flooding along the Gulf coast has begun to soak southern Louisiana. Local authorities are beginning to declare states of emergency, as The Times-Picayune reports.

"Tropical Depression 13, which is expected to become Tropical Storm Lee by Saturday, is expected to make landfall along the southern coast of Louisiana around 1 p.m. on Saturday with winds of 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. ... Tropical storm warnings are in effect from Pascagoula, Miss., across the coast to Sabine Pass, Texas."

Meanwhile, mid-Atlantic and northeastern states continue to recover from last weekend's major weather event — Hurricane Irene.